This study was conducted to comprehensively examine the feasibility of introducing small hydropower generation in Seoul by considering the city’s urban environmental characteristics and existing water infrastructure, and to propose implementable development strategies from technical, economic, and policy perspectives. As the importance of responding to the climate crisis and achieving carbon neutrality continues to grow, the need to secure distributed renewable energy resources that can be utilized within urban environments has become increasingly urgent. Small hydropower generation has gained attention as a promising alternative for expanding urban renewable energy, owing to its relatively low environmental impact and ability to produce stable energy with minimal spatial constraints. Accordingly, this study focused on analyzing the potential of small hydropower as a clean energy source suitable for urban settings and developing expansion strategies that contribute to diversifying renewable energy resources and securing a stable power supply.
Chapter 2, “Understanding Small Hydropower and Case Studies,” provides a systematic overview of the fundamental concepts and domestic and international applications of small hydropower. The section on foundational understanding offers explanations of the concept, advantages, classification system, turbine principles, and potential energy estimation methods. The case study section examines renewable energy shares in major countries, domestic small hydropower applications at water purification and wastewater treatment plants, and active adoption of urban conduit-based and low-head hydropower technologies in Japan and Europe, thereby identifying the potential synergy between urban infrastructure and small hydropower technologies.
Chapter 3, “Assessment of Small Hydropower in Seoul,” analyzes the city’s small hydropower status and identifies key issues. This includes a comprehensive review of existing and planned facilities—such as the Arisu Water Purification Center, Water Reclamation Centers, and the Jamsil submerged weir—as well as past small hydropower initiatives around Cheonggyecheon. Based on site-specific assessments of operational status, facility conditions, and environmental constraints, the chapter proposes improvement strategies for existing systems.
Chapter 4, “Analyzing Small Hydropower Potential and Expansion Strategies
,” evaluates technology trends, potential development sites in Seoul, available hydropower output, carbon reduction effects, and economic feasibility. The technological review includes recent literature, industry trends, integrated turbine systems, building-applied micro hydropower technologies, screw turbine developments, and certification systems. The application analysis assesses development potential using existing infrastructures such as water purification plants, pumping stations, and river weirs. Potential output was estimated for each location, and an economic analysis was conducted, with the Jungnangcheon submerged weir examined as a representative case study.
In conclusion, this study holds significance in that it comprehensively analyzes the applicability of small hydropower in Seoul from technical, spatial, and economic perspectives and presents practical strategies for implementation. Small hydropower has considerable potential to integrate with various urban infrastructures, and with appropriate technology selection and systematic management, it can contribute meaningfully to the establishment of a distributed energy system in Seoul. With continued technological advancements and policy support, Seoul has the potential to evolve into a leading renewable energy city that advances the model for urban small hydropower.